bpkinatl,

I know what you mean.

A few years back, a friend bought a new (1998) BMW 328i cabriolet, automatic. It's funny, cause he is from Germany...he was over to open the first branch location for his company in the states. He insisted on humiliating himself over and over again!

I generally do not "drag" my car, as I am well aware of the 0-60 times of the 3.0 24-valve motor. Car & Driver's article in 1990 (I had to get a microfiche copy at the library) showed the following performance from the 1990 300CE: 0-60mph - 7.7 sec. Standing 1/4 mile - 16.1 sec @ 89mph. Top speed - 147 mph.

The quality of the microfiche copy is terrible, so I won't try to post it here.

Other interesting tidbits include:

Roadholding, 300-ft.-dia. skidpad - 0.78g
Horsepower - 217 @ 6400rpm......(my redline is 7000rpm, this changed when MB went to the 3.2 liter motor in your CE)

Quoting from the C/D article "This engine is set up to breathe effectively at higher speeds, as the elevated power-peak rpm suggests, and taking advantage of the extra ergs requires using the extra revs. Whip the 3.0 liter six hard, spinning it to its 7000-rpm redline, and it delivers the goods. A 7.7 second dash to 60 mph knocked a full second off the twelve-valve CE we tested for that 1988 coupe comparison, even though the multivalve engine brought with it a curb-weight increase from 3290 pounds to 3502. Top speed improved by 10 mph, to 147"....."From the start, the CE has been an expensive car, and now it lists at $57,350. But price is just a mechanism to control demand. To the extent that exclusivity contibutes to the 300CE's appeal, its lofty sticker is a perverse benefit."

On a rare occasion - and with new V-rated Michelins, I may "exercise" my CE towards to upper limits of its capability. Not many normally aspirated 6-cyl cars will come close to hitting 150 mph. Most of the stuff coming from Germany these days is limited to 125-130mph (AMG, M-Power, Audi "S", Porsche excepted of course). But they don't try to challenge me. It's the kid in a five year old 325, or a Z3 (1.9 or 2.8).

However, the pleasure for me is not racing every kid in town or losing a new BMW on GA400, but knowing I can.